The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) unveiled a new grant program aimed at upgrading and standardizing state crash data systems across the U.S. Backed by up to $350 million in grants, the initiative is designed to facilitate full electronic data transfer to NHTSA, fostering more efficient intrastate data sharing and enhancing the precision, timeliness and accessibility of critical fatality data.
“These grants will mean more state data coming to NHTSA faster, which means we can put this information to good use in pursuing our shared safety goal -- saving lives,” said Sophie Shulman, NHTSA’s deputy administrator. “State data tells us what’s happening on our roads and allows us to develop effective and responsive strategies, countermeasures, research, rulemakings and consumer education campaigns.”
The State Electronic Data Collection (SEDC) program, fulfilling a mandate from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, invites applications from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands and the Secretary of the Interior on behalf of Indian tribes. This widespread eligibility aims to ensure a comprehensive upgrade of crash data systems across the nation.
NHTSA's approach involves awarding SEDC grants to states and territories that present a clear plan for modernizing and standardizing their data collection systems. Selected participants will be granted a five-year window to implement full electronic data transfers to NHTSA.
The application deadline is May 1, and NHTSA plans to distribute the grants by December. This new program aligns with President Joe Biden’s broader goals under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
For further details on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and NHTSA's funding opportunity, visit the agency's official BIL page and the Notice of Funding Opportunity section on their website.
